蹤獲扦

The Subterranean World (1664)

by Athanasius Kircher, S.J. (1602-1680)

translation by Wm. Parcell

Return to Main Page

 

VOLUME I

updated 11/2024

Front Matter

 

frt1 Publication approval
Dedication to Pope Alexander VII

 

Preface

Chapter I. On the occasion of this work and the author's travels.

Chapter II. The horrendous earthquakes that occurred in Calabria in the year 1638, during which the author, risking his life for fourteen days, acquired profound insights into the secrets of nature.

Chapter III. Exploration of Mount Vesuvius and other islands by the author.

 

Second Preface.

This section mentions those who have contributed substantially to this work through various observations.

Book I. Centrography, also called Centrosophia

 

Section I. On the wonderful nature of the Center and the greatest work of God.

Preface.

Chapter I. Explanation of Definitions.

Chapter II. On the Line of Direction

Chapter III. The paradox of the Center of the Earth.

 

Section II. Physico-mathematics and on the motion of heavy bodies towards the Center of the Universe.

Preface.

Chapter I. Definition of local motion of bodies and impulse.

Chapter II. On the accelerated motion, both natural and violent, of heavy bodies and its proportion to the time the given space is completed.

Chapter III. On the motion of bodies on inclined planes.

Chapter IV. On the motion of pendulums.

Chapter V. On the motion of projectile parabolas and their remarkable effects.

 

Section III. Practical application of the Cosmocentric Art, or the benefits that can be derived from the Cosmocentric Art.

Chapter I. How to determine the usefulness and the speed of motion of heavy bodies towards the Center. 

 

Section IV. The Cosmocentric Art, that is Applied Centrosophia

Chapter I.

Chapter II. On the motions of Pendulums.

Chapter III. On the application and benefit of the above.

Chapter IV. On the use of pendulums in matters relating to geometry.

Appendix. The Harmonic Motion of Strings.

Book II. The Geocosm, or the Wonderous Works of the Earthly Globe.

Chapter I. On the Objective and Purpose of the Geocosm

Chapter II. The Idea of the Earthly Globe exists in the Divine Mind

Chapter III. On the nature and composition of the Celestial Globes or Stars and how they influence the Lower World.

Chapter IV. On the Sun and its admirable powers and properties influencing the Earthly World.

Chapter V. On the Nature and Effects of the Lunar Body.

Chapter VI. On the Proportion of the Earth to the Sun and Moon.

Chapter VII. On the outer structure of the Earth and its size.

Chapter VIII. On the Mountains of the Geocosmos and their necessity.

Chapter IX. On the hidden constitution of Mountains.

Chapter X. On the architecture of Mountains and their hidden uses to humanity.

Chapter XI. On Flaming or Volcanic Mountains.

Chapter XII. On the wonderful transformation of Terrestrial regions and whether Mountains decrease or increase over time.

Conclusion.

Appendix.

Chapter XIII. On the Geocosmic Ocean, its Surroundings, and the Concealed Passageways Connecting Seas.

Chapter XIV. On the height of Mountains and the depth of the Oceans and Seas. Let us also delve into the topic of the height of the Caucasus Mountains, as asserted by Aristotle.

Chapter XV. On the Unevenness of the Seafloor: Confirmed by an Earlier Memorable Story.

Chapter XVI. On the Measurement of the Strait of Sicily by the Author in 1638.

Chapter XVII. On the Magnetic Structure of the Earth, or simply, the Skeletal Structure of the Earth.

Chapter XVIII. On the Geocosm or Terrestrial Body, which is not homogeneous; rather, it is heterogeneous. Given the remarkable diversity of elements and substances comprising the Terrestrial Body, one might wonder: what truly constitutes the genuine and inherent Terrestrial Element?

Chapter XIX. On exploring the internal constitution of the Geocosm, its mechanisms, and their comparison to the organs of the human body.

Chapter XX. On the Caves, Chasms, and Innumerable Passages of the Earth.

 

Book III. Hydrography, or the nature of the ocean. On the origin of mountains, as well as the perpetual pericyclosis and the other remarkable Effects of natural phenomena, both external and internal.

Section I. Exploring the nature of the aqueous element, its ceaseless movements within the ever-active sea, and its extraordinary effects in the subterranean world.

Chapter I. Exploring the many actions that keep the active sea in constant perpetual Motion.

Chapter II. On the general movement of the sea, which flows in an east-to-west direction.

Chapter IV. On the general motion of the sea and its effects around the earth.

Section II. [Tides and Whirlpools]

Chapter I. On the second general motion of the sea comprising two opposing movements known as the tide, ebb and flow, as well as the surge and swell of the sea.

Chapter II. Discussion I. How the moon moves the sea by its power and quality.

Chapter III. Discussion II. Why the sea exerts its greatest force during the time of the new and full moon.

Chapter IV. Discussion III. How the sea does not always ebb and flow every six hours in different parts of the earth, even if irregular movements of the sea may occur.

Chapter V. Discussion IV. Why, in London, within the river, the most significant sea-level rise takes place when the Moon is positioned in the Southwestern part of the quadrant, while conversely when the moon is in the northern signs located in the Euro-Borealis region, the highest swelling happens three hours prior to reaching the London meridian.

Chapter VI. Discussion V. Why does the water in the estuary of the River in France rise for seven hours and fall for only five? Conversely, why does the water of the Senegal River in Africa rise for four hours and fall for eight?

Chapter VII. Discussion VI.

Chapter VIII. Discussion VII. Why does the Southern Sea, referred to as del Zur, near Panama, exhibit such remarkable and unconventional Tides, whereas in the Northern Sea, known as del Nord, near Port Nombre de Dios and other American continent coasts, tides are scarcely perceptible?

Chapter IX. Discussion VIII.

Chapter X. Discussion IX. The remarkable whirlpool of Norway, which stands as the most renowned and extensive in the entire terrestrial world. Discussion X. The nature of the Mediterranean Sea, its currents, tides, and other extraordinary phenomena witnessed therein.

Section III. The Art of Navigation.

Chapter I. On the use and practice of marine tides in Nautical Art. 

Chapter II. On the circulation of the ocean cycles.

Chapter III. On the saltiness of the sea and its origin, necessity, as well as other phenomena pertaining to the ocean and seas.

Chapter IV. On whether the salinity of the sea is the same along all the routes of the ocean.

 

Book IV. Pyrography, or the origins of underground fire.

Section I. On the Nature of Subterranean Fire and its Operations.

Preface.

Chapter I. On the necessity and essence of subterranean fire and whether it is an element.

Chapter II. What is the true nature of fire element, and where is its proper place?

Chapter III. On the subterranean fire spread throughout everything, why is it perpetual in some places but not in others?

Chapter IV. On the Phlegraean Fields in the Puteoli Region.

Chapter V. On the Cave of Charon, commonly known as the Grotta dei Cani, situated in close proximity to Lake Agnano near Naples, and its deadly properties, which lead to the suffocation of those who enter.

Chapter VI. The presence of fiery mountains on the external surface of the Earth demonstrates that the Earth is full of fires.

Chapter VII. On the perennial duration of the fire and its fuel or nourishment.

Chapter VIII. Description of Aetna. In it, a sort of prototype of subterranean fires and their unceasing sources of sustenance, as is often said, the reasons for their perpetuity are vividly demonstrated.

Chapter IX. Description of the crater of Etna.

Section II. On the causes, nature, forces, and varieties of air and winds that rule both on the surface of the Geocosm and in subterranean cavernous regions.

Preface.

Chapter I. On the many causes, categories, and definitions of winds.

Chapter II. On the General Wind, and how and why it arises.

Chapter III. On the Periodic or Annual Winds, which the Greeks call Etesians, and their causes.

Chapter IV. On the Periodic Winds observed by Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, and English sailors in the ocean.

Chapter V. On the causes of various winds.

Chapter VI. On the transverse motion of the winds and its cause.

Chapter VII. The origin of tremors, undulations, varying degrees of force of the wind, and relaxation of its impulse, as well as their identification through sound.

Chapter VIII. On the nature and properties of winds.

Chapter IX. On the production of artificial winds contributes to the recreation and benefit of humans. So as not to appear to have omitted anything curious in this work, we have decided to discuss the production of artificial winds in this section.

Chapter X. All meteorological phenomena originate from the subterranean world, and all phenomena of the same kind are generated in a consistent manner on the external surface and in the region.

Chapter XI. All meteorological phenomena that arise in the atmosphere are shown to derive their origin from subterranean fires.

 

Book V. Lakes, rivers, and springs. The nature and character of their subterranean origin.

Section I. On the origin of springs, rivers, and lakes, and their different natures, powers, and properties.

Preface. Discussion I. On the origin of springs, lakes, and swamps.

Chapter I. Discussion. On the multiple causes of the origin of springs.

Chapter II. Discussion. On the principal and general cause of both springs and rivers.

Chapter III. Discussion. On other methods and explanations.

Chapter IV. Investigation. On the origin of lakes in plains.

Section II. Discussion of the various types of water and their qualities, or, in other words, thermal and medicinal waters and their nature, properties, and origin.

Chapter I. On simple spring water and its goodness and badness.

Chapter II. On water divining or the signs by which one can discern where water lies hidden beneath the earth.

Chapter III. On mixed or compounded medicated waters and their causes, and on mixing with minerals in various ways.

Chapter IV. On the mixture of medicinal waters. That is, how and with what skill, and by what minerals and metallic bodies any medicinal water contains, can be known through various experiments.

Chapter V. Description of the hydrometer by which the heaviness and lightness of waters are explored.

Chapter VI. On the heat and warmth of hot springs, their cause, and how they are imbued with such different mineral tinctures.

Section III. Discussion on thermal springs. On medicated waters, and their wonderful powers and properties in general, which are all demonstrated to have their origin underground.

Chapter I. On main thermal springs, or medicinal waters, which occur throughout the surface of the Geocosm.

Chapter II. On the origin of therapeutic properties of thermal springs that are effective against a wide array of diverse ailments.

Section IV. Inquiry into the marvels of waters and the prodigious nature and properties of certain springs.

Preface.

Chapter I. On the color, taste, smell, and fumes in some springs and hot springs.

Chapter II. The heaviness and buoyancy of certain waters and their marvels.

Chapter III. On the lethal waters and Charonian pits, possessing a deleterious force.

Chapter IV. On the ebb and flow of some springs and the various changes in waters that predict a scarcity of provisions.

Chapter V. The metamorphic power of springs, rivers, and lakes, which can transform any inserted species into stone or other metallic substances.

Chapter VI. On the marvels of other waters.

Chapter VII. On the various transformations of lakes, rivers, and springs, and the changes on the earth's surface.

 

Book VI. On the fourth natural element which is earth positing, it produced the first fruits of the underground world.

Section I.On the wondrous variety of Earth, the Element's true and proper character, and what it signifies.

Chapter I. On the element Earth.

Chapter II. On the great variety of things contained in the womb of the terrestrial globe.

Chapter III. Let us commence our exploration of the myriad phenomena that emerge across the expansive Megacosm, shaped by the combined influence of salt and the complementary actions of the other Elements, by delving into the diverse facets of salt itself.

Chapter IV. On the different types of salt.

Chapter V. On the methods of extracting salts.

Section II. [On Niter, Soda, and Saltpeter]

Chapter I. On niter, soda and its species: salt, nitrous, aphronitrus, and halinitrus.

Chapter II. On saltpeter, a third species of salt.

Chapter III. On the generation, nature, and properties of saltpeter.

Chapter IV. On the manufacture and uses of gunpowder in pyrotechnics.

Section III. On alum. A third type of salt.

Chapter I. On the name, definition, and variety of alum.

Chapter II. On the nature, quality, and preparation of alum.

Chapter III. Regarding medical and other uses of alum.

Section IV. On vitriol and its wonderful properties.

Chapter I. On the definition, classification, and origin of vitriol.

Chapter II. Can iron indeed be transformed into copper through the use of vitrol?

Chapter III. On the variety, powers, properties, and uses of Vitriol.

Chapter IV. On Artificial Vitriol.

Appendix. On the four types of Salt. Questions and properties of salt.

 

Book VII. On minerals or fossils. Concerning a proper understanding of the earthly element, its nature, property, use, and the perennial geocosm, which undergoes pericycle and revolution through their change.

Preface.

Section I. On terrestrial substances, including sandy bodies enclosed in the womb of the Geocosmos.

 

Chapter I. On sand, coarse sand, gravel, and ash.

Chapter II. On the quality and use of sand.

Chapter III. The marvelous eternal and unceasing cycle of nature.

Section II. On the movement of the earthly globe, that is, the great and perpetual movement of terrestrial matter, caused by the movement of sand, gravel, and pebbles, or the resolution of clays, stones, and metallic mixtures.

Chapter I. On the causes of Geocosmic change.

Chapter II. Exploring the true nature of the earth, its origins, and the different terrestrial substances often referred to as soil.

Chapter III. Origin of the great diversity of earth.

Chapter IV. On the use of various earths.

Chapter V. On the requirements for cultivating fields.

Chapter VI. On earth material used by potters and painters.

Recapitulation of what has been said in the preceding Books.

END OF VOLUME I

 

 

VOLUME II

updated 11/2024

Front Matter
frt2 Frontispiece

Dedication to Leopold I, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire

 

Preface

Preface to the reader.

Concept of the work.

BOOK VIII. On stoney earth. Fossil bones, horns, and subterranean animals, men, and demons.

Preface.

Section I. Common stones.

Chapter I. On multiple differences among stones.

Chapter II. Stony Substance seen in the Geocosm and the origin of mountains.

Chapter III. The power of stone-working is spread throughout the entire body of the Geocosm.

Chapter IV. Origin of stones and rocks, and how they become so hard over time.

Chapter V. Color of stones and gems, and how their color variation is inscribed in them by nature.

Chapter VI. On colors, which are called apparent.

Chapter VII. In which the cause and origin of transparent stones and gems is discussed, first of crystalline gems, then of diamonds.

Chapter VIII. On various figures, forms, and images with which nature has adorned stones and gems. Also, on the shapes found in eggshells and the birds depicted in wood by nature.

Chapter IX.  On the marvelous works of nature, the painter; the forms, figures, and images that she delineates in stones and gems, and their origin and causes.

Section II. On transformation. Juices, salts, herbs, plants, trees, animals, and humans transformed into stone, or the power of petrification.

Chapter I. On the origin of petrifying juices.

Chapter II. Observations on various things turned into stones.

Chapter III. Stones that grow in various parts of animals.

Chapter IV. Genesis of subterranean bones and horns.

Chapter V. Fossilized horns, which have a close affinity with subterranean bones, are discussed here, especially the unicorn's horn.

Chapter IV. On fossilized wood and coal.

Section III. On asbestos and amber and other bituminous gums and the fossil wonders that they possess.

Chapter I. On asbestos, or amiantus.

Chapter II. Preparation of asbestos linen for weaving and paper making.

Chapter III. Amber or succinum, commonly known as amber.

Chapter IV. How various types of small animals found their burial place in the center of amber.

Chapter V. The attractive power of amber.

Chapter VI. Medicinal properties of amber or electrum.

Chapter VII. The Twelve Stones placed in the rational of the High Priest and in the foundations of the Apocalyptic City.

Section IV. Subterranean animals.

Preface.

Chapter I. On animals, and other things that cannot live outside the Earth and perpetually dwell within its bowels.

Chapter II. On subterranean dragons.

Chapter III. On subterranean human beings.

Chapter IV. On subterranean demons.

 

BOOK IX. On deadly, venomous fruits of the subterranean world

Section I. Poisons and their nature, origin and admirable properties.

Preface.

Chapter I. Definition of poison.

Chapter II. On certain terrestrial minerals, from which all poisons are primarily derived from the subterranean world.

Chapter III. On accidental genesis of poison in other plants and animals, both living and dead.

Chapter IV. On different types of poisons.

Chapter V. On the difference between food, medicine, and poison: Likewise on the harmony and discord of things, which they call sympathy and antipathy, with various distinctions, and whether the enmity and friendship of things are accomplished through primary or elemental qualities, or through the specific virtues of things.

Chapter VI. On the alignment and discordance of veins, their origins, and underlying causes.

Section II. Poisons in sensitive and vegetative nature.

Chapter I. How poison arises in the human body.

Chapter II. How poisons can arise in us in many ways.

Chapter III. How animal poisons infect and kill humans, or on the causes of poisons.

Chapter IV. This chapter discusses the venom of snakes, including vipers and asps, which belong to the first class of poisonous creatures. It describes where the lethal venom is stored in their bodies and how it causes death in humans.

Chapter V. How poisons do not harm some animals, and how poisons from the bite of a rabid dog and a tarantula only manifest at a specific time.

Chapter VI. On the origin of diseases.

Chapter VII. On the treatment of poisonous diseases.

Section III. Imperfect metallic substances. The principal causes that contribute to the genesis of metals.  The poisons of minerals, as well as their medicinal properties, are more fully explained.

Chapter I. On the marvelous nature and property of sulfur.

Chapter II. On other minerals that originate from sulfur.

Chapter III. The origin, nature, and properties of antimony or stibium.

Chapter IV. On quicksilver or mercury, its nature, and its wonderful properties.

Chapter V. On bituminous substances.

Chapter VI. On the fruits of the sea, coral, and shells.

 

BOOK X.  On metallurgy or the art of metals; the nature, properties, principles, and causes of metals, along with their matrices or mines, are thoroughly discussed. Every aspect related to this discipline is meticulously examined, employing precise methods and a comprehensive array of experiments and reasoning.

Section I. The requirements of the metallic art, and the conditions of mines.

Chapter I.  On metallurgy and the material and formal causes of metals.

Chapter II. Whether the sky and stars converge, and how stars can contribute to the production of metals.

Chapter III. How does nature refine the oily moisture that forms the basis of metals, and what role do sulfur, mercury, and salt play in this process?

Chapter IV. How the efficiency of earthly moisture and heat produces everything; the factors responsible for causing metals to melt when exposed to fire while stones and other plant materials do not; the methods employed by nature in the dissolution and refinement of substances.

Section II. On metals, other mineral mines, as well as the diseases and remedies of miners.

Chapter I. What is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the art of metallurgy, or the qualifications expected of a superintendent of mines.

Chapter II. On diseases of miners.

Chapter III. On the treatment of metallic diseases.

Chapter IV. On remedies for purging noxious air in mines.

Chapter V. On a method of draining water sediment, which greatly hinders miners.

Chapter VI. On the many ducts of veins and mineral fibers.

Chapter VII. Metallognomy, or on the signs of hidden metal and how to recognize veins of metals.

Section III.

The nature of metallic mines, their properties, various occurrences, and different responses to the author.

Preface.

Report I. On the mines of Hungary and the memorable things that occur in them. Chapter I. Response from Schemnitz to the nine points proposed by the author. 

Report II. Response to the proposed questions of Johann Schapelmann, Superintendent of copper mines in Herrengrundt, Hungary, for His Imperial and Royal Majesty.

Report III. Georg Schutz, the chief in charge of minerals for the Sacred Imperial Majesty in the Chamber of Schemncensi.

Report IV. Father Andreas Schaffer's account of the different minerals found in Hungarian mines.

Report V. The Tyrolean Miners, by the Noble and Distinguished Man, Lord Johann Gervick, Serene Counsellor of the Archduke.

Chapter VI. On metallurgical machines.

Section IV. The conditions of mines. The various processes involved in extracting, washing, smelting, and separating minerals.

Chapter I. On the purification of metals.

Chapter II. Another method for preparing metals from Agricola.

Chapter III. Gold mines and extraction methods.

Chapter IV. Silver mine, its nature and properties.

Chapter V. Mixture of metals.

Chapter VI. Sympathy and antipathy.

Chapter VII. On scoria and excrements of metals.

Chapter VIII. The incredible abundance of gold and silver mines found in Peru, New Rego, and New Spain in America, according to reports of the Jesuit Fathers.

Chapter IX. On the mines of copper or brass.

Chapter X. Iron ores. The nature and properties of iron.

Chapter XI. On salt mines and the preparation of salt.

 

BOOK XI.  Chymiotechnicus which is the Universal Chymical Apparatus of the world and its marvelous operations, adorned with the artful Chymiotechnics following the archetype of nature, is explained, and Pseudochemistry is thoroughly refuted.

Preface.

Section I. The origin of alchemy.

Chapter I. On the name, definition, and division of alchemy.

Chapter II. On alchemy, also called chrysopoeia.

Chapter III. On the antiquity of alchemy.

Chapter IV. On pyrotechnics or the vessels and instruments required for alchemical operations.

Chapter V. On furnaces, vessels, degrees of heat, and other chemical operations.

Chapter VI. Methodical paradigmatic canon demonstrates chemical operations through experiments, with various examples proving each operation.

Section II. The Philosophers Stone

Chapter I. What the Philosophers Stone is, what the Philosophical Elixir or Tincture is, and whether true and natural gold can be produced by means of it.

Chapter II. Whether a true and real transmutation of one metal into another is possible.

Chapter III. The way and method of making the Philosophers Stone and tincture.

Chapter IV. The Magnum Opus of Perfect Art is examined by Llull, Azoth, and others.

Chapter V. Where it is taught that the processes of the alchemists of the Great Art cannot endure.

Chapter VI. Arnold of Villanova demonstrates that all attempts at chrysopoeia are futile, even by the very leaders of alchemy.

Chapter VII. Objections against the aforementioned processes and their authors are refuted.

Chapter VIII. Pseudo-alchemist. The deceits, deceptions, and methods by which alchemists have boasted about being able to create true gold, as they have done in the past and still do today.

Chapter IX. Demons often mingle with practitioners of alchemy.

Section III. Sophistic alchemy. That is, alchemy that combines gold and silver with copper, lead, and tin, ultimately producing gold through a significant transformation.

Chapter I. On various false and illicit operations of different Sophists.

Chapter II. On the lawfulness or unlawfulness of the chymists' gold-making, called apposition, or the method by which any metal joined with gold is multiplied.

Chapter III. [Chrysopoeia vs Chymistry]

Section IV. [Legal Concerns]

Chapter I. Legal or juridical. On whether Alchemical gold, made in various ways, can be lawfully sold as genuine.

Chapter II. Legal-canonical decisions. On false and true alchemical gold.

Final Chapter. 廒彖庰 庥帢庥彃僇 廒彖帢庥帢庛帢庣弮庰彖帢庣.

Antithetical Summary, or Contradictory Summary, by which it is summarily shown from what has been said so far that everything else understood through the Mastery of the Great Art by true Philosophers is different from what false Alchemists promise.

 

BOOK XII.  峊峓峉, or the Ape of Nature. The sagacity inherent in nature, which is amazing, rare, and unusual as presented in the preceding books, is likewise shown to be produced by the ingenious industry of Art and by experiments, provided nature does not contradict it by the power and efficacy of the Geocosmos.

Preface.

Section I. The panspermia of things

Chapter I. On the origin, nature, and properties of the seed.

Chapter II. The manner in which nature proceeds in the genesis of minerals is explained.

Chapter III. On the seed of plants and the nature of vegetables.

Chapter IV. This seed is simply the salt embedded within the elements of nature, where the three essential principles of nature are intricately intertwined.

Chapter V. How the universal seed contributes to the generation of animals, and the wonderful efficacy of plastic virtue in animal seed.

Chapter VI. On the spontaneous origin of living beings from hidden seeds that are said to arise from decay.

Chapter VII. On the various classes of spontaneously generated beings.

Chapter VIII. The combinative subjects from which both plants and animals are born by spontaneous generation are exhibited.

Chapter IX. How zoophytes and insects of all kinds arise from the bodies of perfected animals.

Chapter X. On the spontaneous generation of insects from other fully formed animals of different species.

Section II. On Animals. What the Greeks call 峟彖怷弮怷 and the Latins call insects, various both in natural and artificial production.

Preface.

Chapter I. On the origins of various insects.

Chapter II. On the generation of insects called honeybees.

Chapter III. The genesis of four-winged insects.

Chapter IV. The origin of the Anelytra, also known as the "two-winged" insects.

Chapter V. On the origin of insects that have wings enclosed in sheaths.

Chapter VI. On insects that, although devoid of wings, are equipped with many legs.

Chapter VII. On worms that are born in animals, especially in humans.

Chapter VIII. Summary of experimental observations.

Chapter IX. The many and diverse types of insects that nature has willed to produce.

Section III. The Kingdom of Nature. The Botanical Philosophy, which deals with the wonderful effects of the Subterranean World in the genesis of plants and vegetation, and how marvelous arts can be deduced from them.

Preface.

Chapter I. On the wonderful power and efficacy of the seed in vegetables.

Chapter II. On the three principles of nature, from which such a variety of plants arises, and the fermentations of all things.

Chapter III. The differences among plants. What is necessary to discover their power, and how to explore their variety of strengths.

Chapter IV. On the Art of Emphyteusis or Inoculation.

Section IV. The Art of Stalactites, or Distillation,

Preface. The Art of Distillation is an imitation of nature in the underground workshop or laboratory, where everything is achieved through distillation.

Chapter I. Definition and various distinctions of distillation.

Chapter II. On species of mixed elements, and their use and benefit arranged in accordance with the rules of art, in the nature of things.

Chapter III. Botanical. On the first qualities, both manifest and hidden or specific, of plants, and their singular parts, such as leaves, roots, flowers, fruits, seeds, woods; on oils, gums, and their powers and properties in medical use, extracted from the best monuments of ancient and recent physicians, and reduced to synoptic tables.

Chapter IV. On the prodigious properties of plants that are said to have originated from underground.

Chapter V. On the various incidents or occurrences related to plants, questions have been posed in order to unravel and explain them.

Section V. Hidden workshops or studios of various arts, wherein wonderous operations are undertaken according to the prototype of the subterranean archives.

Preface.

Part I. The Art of Alchemy

Chapter I. On alchemical secrets

Chapter II. Medical-chemical investigation, in which the truth of potable gold is explored.

Chapter III. Why gold or works made from gold, as alchemists boast, obtain use, virtue, and efficacy in medicine, and whether medicine can or should be called universal.

Chapter IV. On silver or terrestrial Moon.

Chapter V. On the masters of iron, tin, copper, and lead.

Chapter VI. On metallic trees and their artificial production.

Chapter VII. The Anacephalaeotic Canons, which guide artists in chemical operations and help distinguish true from false procedures, are in accordance with the author's intentions and the perspectives of other reputable Chymists. 

Part II. Metallographic art, or on the Art, through the science of weighing, enables the precise determination of metal and mineral mixtures, as well as the measurement of moisture and dryness in every blend, be it mineral, vegetable, or animal.

Chapter I. Whereby the mixture of gold is revealed.

Chapter II. On the weighing of various objects.

Part III. The art of glassmaking. This section discusses the wonderful works of glass and how to create examples of nature with precious crystals, pearls, and gems.

Chapter I. On the nature of glass.

Chapter II. On the art of crafting gems and precious stones.

Chapter III. How to make gems from smaltum or encaustum.

Chapter IV. The adulteration of gems, or on the falsification of precious stones and the composition thereof, partly proven by my own experiment, partly by the authority of expert writers, and the communication of friends.

Part IV. Pyroabolic art, also called Pyrotechnics.

Preface.

Chapter I. The preparation of pyrite powder.

Chapter II. On Preparing common incendiary ropes.

Chapter III. Medical-chemistry practices.  Several proven antidotes against burns, made from pyrite powder, sulfur, red-hot iron, molten lead, and similar substances.

Chapter IV. Compositions for all types of rockets, which Italians call "Raggi" and Germans call "Rakettas," according to the ideas of Siemienov and other pyrotechnicians who work on making gunpowder.

Chapter V. On recreational water globes, which burn while floating on water.

Chapter VI. Other practices.

Chapter VII. Shining globes, such as those that we use to light up with fires, called "Lichtfugel" by the Germans.

Chapter VIII. On the various spectacles created through Pyrotechnic Art.

Final Part. The secrets of some Mechanical Arts, modeled on the example of underground nature.

Chapter I. The Art of goldsmiths and other artisans who work with metals.

Chapter II. On miscellaneous secrets.

 

end